Rollins Pass Road reopening remains controversial 24 years later

It has been nearly a quarter-century since vehicles traveling up Rollins Pass Road were able to pass through Needle's Eye Tunnel, allowing visitors to traverse the high tundra back and forth between Boulder County on one side and Gilpin and Grand counties on the other.

Ed Lehman: Attend meeting this week on reopening Rollins Pass Road

The Moffat Road and Needles Eye Tunnel are national historic landmarks that ecompass several counties — Boulder, Gilpin and Grand — in the foothills along the Front Range. Access to the area has been blocked for some time due to unsafe conditions in the Needles Eye Tunnel from a cave-in, but an inspection done by Deere & Ault Consultants Inc. in September 2012 revealed it could be restored, making it safe for two-wheel drive vehicles.